Giving: Spontaneous or Planned?

Now concerning the collection for the saints,
as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.
On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save,
as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

— 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (NASB1995)

In Kenya I was birdwatching on a dusty road with a young Kenyan colleague. He enjoyed pointing out Kenyan birds, but he owned no binoculars. Soon it was time to head back for our final meeting. On a spontaneous whim, I handed him my binoculars and said, “Here, these are yours!” I wish you could have seen the delight on his face—and mine!

Spontaneous giving is a joy.

Similarly, the Good Samaritan helped a wounded traveler by the side of the road. He bandaged his wounds and gave an innkeeper two denarii and said, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you” (Luke 10:35). Spontaneous giving.

But Paul introduces an additional way to give—by design, according to a plan.

The collection for the saints was a major ministry for Paul. The saints belonged to the Jewish Mother Church in Jerusalem where the gospel had begun 20 years previously. After Jesus’ resurrection, new believers in Jerusalem were “selling their possessions” and sharing with “anyone who might have need” (Acts 2:45). In those exciting days, there was “not a needy person among them” (Acts 4:34).

Now, 20 years later, there were many “needy persons among them.” Seeing an opportunity to quiet Jewish suspicions about Gentile converts, Paul invites the Corinthians to support the believers in Jerusalem—even though they were strangers.

But there was a problem. In the Greek way of giving, wealthy benefactors constructed aqueducts or public buildings—with their names inscribed. And the Greeks had a custom called eranoi where citizens gave to a fund to help the unfortunate—but it was a loan, not a gift.

Not to be stopped, Paul exhorts the new Christians to over-ride their cultural traditions. Rather than spontaneously reaching into their pockets on Collection Day, the Corinthians were to set aside an amount each week.

Setting aside money week-by-week required them to think about giving week-by-week. To use a business term, giving needed to be “top of mind.” This would also result in a larger amount given than an unplanned one-time collection.

What can we learn from Paul’s giving instructions?

1. Give with Freedom.
Culture and family heritage are not the final arbiters in your giving decisions.


2. Give First.
Put aside and save means that money earmarked for giving is not available for other expenses. When believers don’t first remove their giving from their weekly or monthly cash flow, it gets spent on “urgent” needs. “Sorry, Pastor. Sorry Mission-worker. The Lord didn’t provide.”

What about family emergencies?

Follow Paul’s advice. Set aside and save a “family emergency” amount from each paycheck. If not needed one month, save it until the next.

3. Give Proportionally
As he may prosper shows that giving is based on income. When you earn more, give more. Paul (the former tithing-Pharisee) could have instructed the Corinthians to tithe, but he did not.

4. Give with Forethought.
Biblical giving is not hap-hazard but planned ahead of time. Sad to say, many believers have not formulated a giving plan beyond supporting their church. 

5. Give Frequently.
The Collection was a one-time funding event, but the discipline of setting aside an amount for giving each week promotes consistent generosity. So, should giving be spontaneous or planned? Both! Wisely plan your finances so you can give consistently. And wisely plan your finances so you can also give spontaneously.

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Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, Giver of all. I confess that my giving is sometimes an afterthought— it’s not “top of mind.” Sometimes I can’t remember the missions I support. Since giving is part of my discipleship, help me to plan my finances so I can give regularly and spontaneously.